Need help with the cost of housing?

Subsidized Housing - Halton Access to Community Housing (HATCH)

If you are struggling with the cost of maintaining your rental home, Halton Region's Subsidized Housing Program may be able to help. Assistance may be in the form of rent-geared-to-income (RGI), which provides safe rental housing for individuals and families with low incomes or financial assistance where you are currently renting.

How does the Rent Supplement Program work?

Rent supplements reduce the cost of housing for qualified individuals and families. Landlords sign an agreement to provide units to the program, and Halton Region places eligible applicants from the HATCH wait list in the available units. The housing subsidy provided through the program is paid to the landlord.

Tenants pay their part of the rent, based on their household income, directly to their landlord.

Additional Forms

Some applicants may have special circumstances that warrant specific housing criteria or an expedited application process. If any of the conditions below apply to you, make sure to submit the additional form with your HATCH application.

Frequently asked questions

Criteria used to place individuals and families changes regularly. Halton Region must follow provincial government regulations, which means the date on your application is not the only information used for placement on our wait list. The waiting time can be years for units highest in demand, such as for single non-senior individuals.

Your flexibility, meaning choosing multiple communities and building selections can help place you higher on the wait list, but as a rule, applicants 65 years of age or older will have shorter wait times.

Rent-geared-to-income - People living in subsidized housing pay a rent based on 30% of their household income (before taxes). Adjustments are made depending on utility coverage included with the rental unit.

Market Rent - These housing providers compare rents in the private sector for similar units. You will pay a comparable rate to these units.

Utilities - Some housing communities in Halton include utilities in the rent. Units metered separately, such as townhouses, may require the tenant to pay for some or all of the utilities (hydro, water, and gas).